Boarding apparatus and connectors suitable for use therewith



Oct. 4, 1966 c. HORBERG, JR, ETAL 3,276,644

BOARDING APPARATUS AND CONNECTORS SUITABLE FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Sept. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CHARLES HORBERG,JR. WILUAM A. RICHTER HENRY RICHTER ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1966 c. HORBERG, JR ETAL 3,276,644

BOARDING APPARATUS AND CONNECTORS SUITABLE FOR USE THEREWITH Filed Sept. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHARLES HORBERG JR. WILLIAM RICHTE'R HENRY RICHTER BY m M fi m rw ATTORNEYS United States Patent BOARDING APPARATUS AND CONNECTORS SUITABLE FOR USE THEREWITH Charles Horberg, Jr., Northbrook, and William A. Richter and Henry Richter, Kankakee, Il]., assiguorsto Paramount Textile Machinery Co., Chicago, [1]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 491,665

13 Claims. (Cl. 223-75) This invention relates to improved hosiery boarding apparatus embodying replaceable hosiery form elements for accommodating hose of different types and sizes and to improved releasable connection means suitable for use in such apparatus.

Various apparatus for hosiery production, such as boarding apparatus, include hosiery forms. These forms must be suitable to the type and size of hosiery being mounted thereon. To facilitate provision in such apparatus of an appropriate type and size form, the forms, as a whole, may be releasably connected to the apparatus or may include a toe portion releasably connected to the remainder of the form. Where such releasable connections are utilized it is important that they provide a rigid connection and be quickly and conveniently engageable and disengageable.

With these requirements in mind, it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved hosiery boarding apparatus embodying improved replaceable hosiery form elements.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a hosiery boarding apparatus embodying replaceable hosiery form elements including a long-lasting rigid connection for the elements over many cycles of assembly and disassembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hosiery boarding apparatus embodying replaceable hosiery form elements which may be conveniently and quickly assembled and disassembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a boarding apparatus including replaceable hosiery form elements wherein alignment problems in replacing such elements are minimized.

In achieving these and other objects that will appear hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention provides hosiery boarding apparatus including a plurality of replaceable hosiery form elements. The replaceable hosiery form element is releasably connected to another element connected to the boarding apparatus by releasable connecting means comprising rotatable lock shaft means mounted for rotation about an axis in one of said elements and extending into an opening included in the other of said elements. The rotatable lock shaft means includes transversely projecting means extending transversely of the opening and the axis. Axial movement stop means are positioned in the opening for locking the shaft means against axial movement in one angular position thereof but permitting axial movement in a second angular positionthereof. The stop means includes resilient deflectable means'supported adjacent the ends thereof in the opening, an intermediate portion of the deflectable means contacting and being deflected by the transversely projecting means when the shaft means is positioned in the said one angular position.

The shaft means may further be provided with alignment means extending transversely of the axis thereof in spaced relation to the transversely projecting means. The alignment means are adapted to be received in a recess in the other of said elements when the shaft means has been rotated to the said second angular position whereby proper alignment for reinsertion of the transversely projecting means is assured.

3,276,644 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 ice illustrative example of a hosiery boarding apparatus embodying replaceable hosiery form elements according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of a hosiery form including releasable con necting means according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of a lock plate assembly of the releasable connecting means of the hosiery form shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partially in cross section, of the hosiery form shown in FIGURE 2 but shown in an assembled condition wherein a leg portion is locked to a base portion by releasable connecting means in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a base portion shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, partially in cross section, of the base portion shown in FIGURE 5 coupled with releasable connecting means shown in the released or unlocked position; and

FIGURE 7 is an auxiliary cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembled hosiery form shown in FIG- URE 2 and taken along lines 7 7 therein showing a releasable connecting means in accordance with the present invention utilized to connect a replaceable toe portion to a leg portion of a hosiery form.

Referring in more detail to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, an illustrative example of an automatic hosiery boarding apparatus 10 is shown, with which replaceable hosiery form elements in accordance with the present invention may be advantageously utilized. The boarding apparatus, which may be used to dry and shape hosiery, comprises a drying chamber 12 for reception of a plurality of hosiery forms 14 in side-by-side relationship.

' Although a specific type of hosiery form is illustrated, it

will be clear to those skilled in the art that other types of forms can, and frequently are, utilized. A conveyer apparatus 16, as for example, a chain-type, is provided for moving the forms 14, in single file, to and from the drying chamber to and from exposed loading and stripping stations exteriorly of the chamber wherein hosiery may be conveniently mounted on or stripped from the individual (forms.

In the illustrated embodiment, each hosiery form 14 comprises a leg portion 18 to an upper extremity of which a toe portion 20 is releasably connected. The lower extremity of the leg portion 18 is releasably connected to a base portion 22 which may be connected to the conveyer assembly 16. It should be made clear that the present invention comprises hosiery forms wherein either or both of the toe and leg portions are releasably connected to the supporting element.

To facilitate substitution of one replaceable hosiery form element for another of a different type or size, it is important that the releasable connecting means connecting the replaceable element to its supporting element be conveniently engageable and disen'gageable. Additionally, the releasable connecting means should be such as to provide a rigid connection in spite of vibrations generated by the conveyer means 16 and the substantial force exerted on the forms during repetitive installation and stripping of hosiery on the individual forms.

Considering first the details of the attachment of the hosiery form 14 to the conveyer assembly 16, the base portion 22 comprises a generally L-shaped base member including an elongated horizontal section 28 having apertures 30 adjacent the ends thereof adapted to receive any suitable connector to connect the base portion 22 to the conveyer assembly 16. Connected to an inner longitudinal side of the horizontal section 28 (the side facing away from the outer periphery of the boarding apparatus) is a vertical section 32. Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, the vertical section 32 includes a horizontally extending bore or opening 34 an outer end of which is doubly stepped or counterbored to form a first vgenerally circular recess 36 which is concentric with an inner or second circular recess 38- of a smaller diameter. A vertically extending alignment slot 37 is provided in the inner face of the vertical section 32 adjacent the inner end of the bore 34.

Positioned in the first recess 36 is a (generally circular lock plate 40 the details of which are shown in FIGURE 3. The lock plate 40 includes a generally planar outer face 42 and a centrally disposed, key-shaped opening 44 therethrough. Positioned on either lateral side of the key-shaped opening 44 are a pair of vertically disposed grooves 46 having shoulder portions 48 at each end thereof. Each of the grooves 46 receives an elongated, tempered resilient lock plate pin or rod 50 which is circular in cross section and suspended in the groove on the shoulders 48 so that an inner longitudinal side thereof projects slightly beyond the inner face of the lock plate 40.

Fixed on opposite sides of the enlarged center portion 51 of the key-shaped opening 44, in diagonally opposed relation, are a pair of vertical alignment stops 52. The vertical inner side faces 54 of the stops 52 are aligned with the wall defining the narrow portion of the key-shaped opening 44 and the radially inward arcuate faces 56 are aligned with a circular wall defining the enlarged center portion 51 of the key-shaped opening. Positioned laterally outwardly of the stop members 52 and the vertically extending grooves 46 are a pair of diagonally opposed, rotational stops 58 each having a horizontal face 60 adjacent the longitudinal midpoint of the grooves 46. The function of the vertical alignment and rotational stops will be discussed more fully hereinafter. Referring to FIGURE 4, the lock plate 40 is secured to the vertical section 32 of the base portion 22 Within the first recess 36 by a pair of threaded connectors 62 the heads of which are received in mating frustoconical recesses 64 in the lock plate 40 and the threaded shanks of which threadedly engage suitable bores 65 extending through the vertical section 32. The lock plate 40 so positioned, the vertical alignment stops 52 and the rotational stops 58 project into the second circular recess 38 to a point adjacent the inner extremity thereof.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the lower extremity of the leg portion 18 includes a vertically extending slot 70 and a pair of horizontally extending bores 72 on either side thereof. The vertical section 32 of the base portion 22 includes a pair of bores 74 for threaded reception of studs 76, the outer ends of which slidingly project into the bores 72 in the lower extremity of the leg portion 18.

To lock the leg portion 18 of the form 14 to the base portion 22, a rotatable lock shaft assembly 80 is provided. The lock shaft assembly includes a horizontally disposed, circular shaft 82 the inner end of which is provided with a transverse bore 84 to receive a press-fitted, alignment pin 86. Intermediate the ends of the shaft 82 a second transverse bore 88 is provided parallel to the bore 84 for reception of a press-fitted lock pin 90. The shaft 82 extends through the slot 70 in the lower extremity of the leg portion 18, through the key-shaped opening 44 in the lock plate 40 and the bore 34 in the vertical section 32 of the base portion 22. It should be noted that the distance between the lock pin 90 and the alignment pin 4 86 is less than the thickness of the vertical section 32 of the base portion 22.

On its outer end the lock shaft assembly 80 is further provided with a circular collar 92 and a fixed lever or handle 94 disposed in perpendicular relationship to the shaft 82.

Initial assembly of the lock shaft assembly 80 with the base portion 22 merely requires removal of the alignment pin 86 from the transverse bore 84. The shaft assembly 80 is angularly positioned as shown in FIGURE 2 so that the lock pin 90 is in vertical alignment with the key-shaped opening 44 and the shaft 82 is directed therethrough until the lock pin 90 abuts the inner face of the second recess 38 in the vertical section 32. At this point the alignment pin 86 is reinserted in the transverse bore 84.

When a hosiery form is to be mounted on the base portion 22, the lock shaft assembly 80 is first positioned as shown in FIGURE 6. The form is then lowered about the shaft 82 so that the vertical slot 70 in the lower extremity of the leg portion 18 receives the shaft 82. The leg portion 18 is then moved inwardly or towards the vertical section 32 in the base portion 22 until the outer ends of the studs 76 are received in the bores 72 in the lower extremity of the leg portion.

To lock the leg portion 18 to the base portion 22, the lock shaft assembly is moved axially inwardly and rotated to the angular position shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. Upon movement of the lock shaft assembly 86 to the lock position, the lock pin is moved from a vertical position in alignment with the key-shaped opening to a horizontal position transverse to the axis of the bore 34. The outer extremities of the lock pin 90 are forced over and deflect the center portion of the lock plate pins 50 further into the grooves 46. This deflection of the center portions of the lock plate pins 50, as will be apparent from a comparison of FIGURES 4 and 6, is permitted by virtue of the fact that the longitudinal ends of the lock plate pins 50 are supported in a relatively elevated position on the shoulders 48 in the grooves 46. In the locked position, the extremities of the lock pin 90 are received in a resiliently bowed center portion of the lock plate pins 50 and rotation from this position to an unlocked position requires the exertion of an appreciable amount of force to carry lock pins up the inclined extremities of the lock plate pins 50. The spring action of the deflected lock plate pins 50 aids in preventing angular displacement of the lock pin by vibrations as might be caused by the conveyer system 16. Also, this same spring action urges the leg portion 18 into contact with the base portion 22 to aid in stabilizing the relative orientation of these portions.

It has been found that the locking action of the instant connecting means afforded by deflection of the lock plate pins 50 by the lock pin 90 provides a more rigid, longlasting connection than the deflected sheet metal or light spring connections sometimes utilized heretofore in releasable connectors.

Positioning the lock shaft in a locked position is simplified by the provision of the rotational stops 58. This is because the fiat faces '60 of the stops 58 abut opposite extremities of the lock pin 90 when the same is moved to the locked position thereby making it impossible to rotate the shaft 82, in a counterclockwise direction, beyond the position shown in FIGURE 4. In this manner the lock pin 80 may not be accidentally rotated beyond the horizontal or optimum locking position.

Difliculty in aligning the lock shaft assembly is minimized even though no clear view of the elements to be aligned is possible. Upon rotation of the lever 94 to the angular position shown in FIGURE 6, the lock pin 90 is rotated clockwise through 90 until the extremities of the lock pin 90 abut the vertical faces 54 of the vertical alignment stops 52. Accidental rotation beyond this point, which would interfere with outward axial movement of the lock shaft assembly, is not possible. At

this point, the lever 94 may be pulled axially outwardly of the base portion 22 until such axial movement is prohibited by the abutment of the alignment pin 86 with the inner extremity of the alignment groove 37 in the vertical section 32. :Because the distance between the lock pin 90 and the alignment pin 86 is less than the thickness of the vertical section 32, any time the lock pin 90 is moved outwardly of the opening 44, the alignment pin 86 is positioned within the groove 37. In this condition the lever 94 cannot be rotated in either direction and proper alignment of the lock pin 90 for subsequent reinsertion within the hidden key-shaped opening 44 of the lock plate 40 is assured. Accidental removal of the rtary shaft assembly 80 is prohibited by abutment of alignment pin 86 with the vertical section 32. Because proper alignment of the elements of the connecting means for reinsertion must be blindly accomplished (without a clear view of the elements to be aligned), this alignment feature of the present invention is operationally advantageous.

The releasable connecting means that is utilized to secure the toe portion 20 to the upper extremity of-the leg portion 1 8 will now be considered. 7

'Referring to FIGURES 2 and 7 of the drawings, the upper extremity of the leg portion 18 is provided with a stepped or reduced thickness portion including a bore or opening 100 having a stepped or counter-bored portion 102 of an increased diameter. A look plate .104, the significant structural details of which are identical to that of the lock plate v40, is fixedly connected adjacent the bore 100 by a pair of threaded connectors 106 the frustoconical heads of which are received in suitable bores in the lock plate assembly. The lock plate assembly 104 includes a key-shaped opening 110 about which are positioned align-ment stops, rotational stops, and grooves having lock plate pins positioned therein, in the manner shown in FIGURE 3 in relation to the construction to the lock plate assembly 40. On opposite sides of the lock plate assembly 104 a pair of studs 112 are positioned to be received in a pair of mating bores 1-14 in the toe portion 20.

To lock the toe portion 20 to the leg portion 18 a rotatable lock shaft assembly 120 is provided. The function of the lock shaft assembly 120 is similar to that of the lock shaft assembly "80. The lock shaft assembly 120 includes an externally slotted enlarged head 122 integral with a shaft 124 rotatably mounted in a counterbored bore 125 in a stepped or reduced thickness portion of the toe portion 20. The shaft 124 is provided with a transverse bore 126 for reception of a press-(fitted locking pin 128. Mounted about the shaft 124 adjacent the enlarged 'head 122 is a flat washer 130 and a resilient spring Washer 1132, this latter washer serving to urge the lock shaft assembly in a direction away from the leg portion of the form. Upon alignment of the toe and leg portions, compression of the spring washer 132, and alignment of the lock pin 1-28 with the key-shaped opening 110, theshaft 124 may be directed through the key-shaped opening 110 into bore 100 until the look pin 12% abuts or is adjacent to the inner extremity of the counterbored portion 102. Upon rotation of the shaft 124 through 90 the look pin 128 abuts and deflects the center portions of the lock plate pins as described above in connection with-FIG- URE 4. Upon rotation of the shaft 124 to an angular position wherein the lock pin 128 is again aligned with 'the key-shaped opening 110 the spring washer 132 acts to urge the shaft 124 out of the opening causing movement of the lock pin 128 to a position between the walls of the lock plate defining the opening 110 thereby maintaining proper pin alignment for disassembly.

As shown in FIGURE 7, mating of the stepped portions of the toe and leg portions and the reception of the lock shaft assembly 120 entirely within the bore 125 permits connection of these elements without necessitating surface projections which might cause damage to, or interfere with mounting of hosiery.

Utilizing either form of the releasable connecting means heretofore disclosed, a releasable connection may be achieved that maintains rigidity over many cycles of assembly and disassembly. Further, such assembly and disassembly is particularly convenient because proper alignment of the elements is assured.

Although the heretofore described releasable connecting means has been disclosed for use with boarding apparatus, it should be clear that it may be advantageously utilized in other types of apparatus having no specific relationship with the disclosed environment of the present invention.

It will be evident from the foregoing that various porting element so that the form element may be removed from time to time and replaced by a similar form element of different dimensions suitable for shaping different hosiery items, the improvement which oomprises a rotatable shaft means mounted for rotation about an axisin one of said elements and extending into an opening included in the other of said elements, transversely projecting means on said shaft means extending transversely of said opening and said axis, axial movement stop means spanning said opening for locking said shaft means against axial movement in one angular position thereof but permitting axial movement in a second angular position thereof, said stop means including resiliently deflectable means supported adjacent the ends thereof in said open-ing, an intermediate portion of said 'deflectable means contacting and being deflected by said transversely projecting means when said shaft means is positioned in said one angular position.

2. A hosiery boarding apparatus according to claim 1 further including first angular movement stop means restricting rotation in one direction of said shaft means in said one angular position and second angular movement stop means restricting rotation in an opposite direction of said shaft means in said second angular position.

3. A hosiery boarding apparatus according to claim 1 further including spring means for urging said shaft means away from said other element.

4. A hosiery boarding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotatable shaft means includes alignment means extending transversely of said axis spaced from said projecting means, said alignment means adapted to be received in recess means in one of said elements when said shaft means is positioned in said second angular position whereby angular movement from said second angular position is restricted.

5. A hosiery boarding form according to claim 4 wherein said projecting means and said alignment means are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of said other element adjacent said opening.

6. A hosiery form comprising a leg portion, a toe portion positioned at one extremity of said leg portion, and releasable connecting means connecting said toe portion to said leg portion, said connecting means comprising a rotatable shaft means mounted for rotation about an axis in one of said portions and extending into an opening included in the other of said portions, transversely projecting means on said shaft means extending transversely of said opening and said axis, axial movement stop means spanning said opening for locking said shaft means against axial movement in one angular position thereof but permitting axial movement in a second angular position thereof, said stop means including resiliently defiectable means supported adjacent the ends thereof in said opening, an intermediate portion of said deflectable means contacting and being deflected by said projecting means when said shaft means is positioned in said one angular position.

'7. A hosiery boarding apparatus including a replaceable hosiery form element detachably mounted on a supporting element, releasable connecting means connecting said form element to said supporting element, said connecting means comprising rotatable shaft means mounted for rotation about an axis in one of said elements and extending into an opening included in the other of said elements, transversely projecting means on said shaft means extending transversely of said opening and said axis, axial movement stop means spanning said opening for locking said shaft means against axial movement in one angular position thereof but permitting axial movement in a second angular position thereof wherein said projecting means may be moved axially to a position out of said opening, said shaft means further including alignment means extending transversely of said opening, said alignment means adapted to be received in recess means in one of said elements, when said shaft means has been rotated to said second angular position and said projecting means has been moved axially to said position out of said opening.

8. A hosiery form according to claim 7 further including first angular movement stop elements projecting axially into said opening, said first angular movement stop means restricting angular movement in one direction of said shaft means in said one angular position and second angular movement stop means restricting angular movement in an opposite direction of said shaft means in said second angular position.

9. Releasable connecting means connecting first and second elements, said connecting means comprising rotatable shaft means mounted for rotation about an axis in one of said elements and extending into an opening included in the other of siad elements, transversely projecting means on said shaft means extending transversely of said opening and said axis, axial movement stop means spanning said opening for locking said shaft means against axial movement in one angular position thereof .but permitting axial movement in a second angular position thereof, said stop means including plate means fixed in said opening, said plate means including a central opening and a pair of elongated grooves on opposite sides of said opening,

shoulder means positioned on each end of each of said grooves, an elongated, resiliently deflectable pin positioned in each of said grooves and supported adjacent the ends thereof on 'fsaid shoulder means, an intermediate portion of each of said deflectable pins contacting and being defiected by the extremities of said transversely projecting means when said shaft means is positioned in said one angular position.

10. A hosiery boarding apparatus including replaceable hosiery form elements detachably mounted on a supporting element, releasable connecting means connecting said elements, said connecting means comprising rotatable 'shaft means mounted for rotation about an axisin said hosiery form element and extending into an opening included in said supporting element, collar means on said shaft means adjacent one end thereof for restricting movement into said opening, lock pin'means on said shaft means extending transversely of said opening on opposite sides of said shaft means spaced from said collar means, lock plate means spanning said opening for locking said shaft means against axial movement in one angular position thereof but permitting axial movement in a second angular position thereof wherein said alignment pin means may be moved axially to a position out of said opening, said lock plate means including an elongated opening including an enlarged center portion, said shaft means being rotatably mounted in said enlarged center portion, said lock plate means including inner and outer faces, said inner face of said lock plate means including a pair of grooves extending transversely of said opening, each of said grooves including a central portion of an increased depth and shoulder portions adjacent the ends thereof, an elongated resiliently deflectable pin positioned in each of said grooves and supported adjacent the ends there-of on'said shoulder portions so as to project axially into said opening beyond said inner face of said lock plate means, an intermediate portion of each of said pins adjacent to said central portions of said grooves contacting and being deflected .by the extremities of said lock pin means when said shaft is positioned in said one angular position, said lock plate including a first pair of diagonally opposed angular movement stop elements projecting from said inner face on either side and adjacent the midportion of said pair of grooves, a second pair of diagonally opposed angular movement stop elements projecting from said inner face between said first pair of stop members on opposite sides of said elongated opening, said first pair of angular movement stop elements restricting angular movement in one direction of said shaft means in said one angular position, said second pair of angular movement stop elements restricting angular movement in an opposite direction of said shaft means in said second angular position, and a pair of studs fixedly mounted on opposite sides of said opening in said supporting element, said studs being slidably received in recesses in said hosiery form element.

11. A boarding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said rotatable shaft means includes alignment pin means on an end thereof opposite to said collar means, said alignment pin means extending transversely of said axis and said opening spaced from said lock pin means a distance less than the thickness of said supporting element adjacent said opening, said alignment pin means adapted to be received in a recess in an exposed face of said supporting element when said shaft means has been rotated to said second angular position and said lock pin means has been moved axially out of said opening.

12. A boarding apparatus according to claim 10 wherein spring means are positioned about said shaft means adjacent said collar means for urging said shaft means away from said supporting element.

13. A boarding apparatus according to claim 10 whereing each of said replaceable hosiery form elements includes a toe portion releasably connected to a leg portion and a leg portion releasably connected to said supporting element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,575 2/1944 Segal 24-2212 2,444,040 6/ 1948 Gower 24-221.2 3,019,951 2/1962 Glaze et al. 22376 3,141,587 7/1964 Albertson et al. 223- JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A HOSIERY BOARDING APPARATUS INCLUDING A REPLACEABLE HOSIERY FORM ELEMENT DETACHABLY MOUNTED ON A SUPPORTING ELEMENT SO THAT THE FORM ELEMENT MAY BE REMOVED FROM TIME TO TIME AND REPLACED BY A SIMILAR FORM ELEMENT OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS SUITABLE FOR SHAPING DIFFERENT HOSIERY ITEMS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A ROTATABLE SHAFT MEANS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS IN ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS AND EXTENDING INTO AN OPENING INCLUDED IN THE OTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS, TRANSVERSELY PROJECTING MEANS ON SAID SHAFT MEANS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID OPENING AND SAID AXIS, AXIAL MOVEMENT STOP MEANS SPANNING SAID OPENING FOR LOCKING SAID 